Compare towns
Maynard vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Maynard | Dedham | Danvers | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA |
| Northborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Dedham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Dedham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.4 |
12.8Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.